Alexandra Eala has wrapped up the most memorable grass-court season of her young career and is already setting her sights on Flushing Meadows, saying her immediate focus is to 'prep for the US Open' after a summer that rewrote Philippine tennis history.
The 21-year-old became the first player from the Philippines to reach the second week of a Grand Slam, storming to the Wimbledon fourth round with wins that included a stunning upset of defending champion Iga Swiatek. She eventually fell to Jasmine Paolini but left the All England Club brimming with confidence, noting that the week would only 'add to my confidence' going forward.
Before Wimbledon, Eala also reached the Berlin Open semi-finals, defeating Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina along the way, before losing to eventual Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Yet it was Eala, not Noskova, who dominated the WTA's end-of-swing public vote. She claimed the 'Star of Swing' award for the grass-court season by a jaw-dropping margin, collecting nearly 90% of the vote with Karolina Muchova finishing third.
One memorable highlight from the grass swing came at the Bad Homburg Open, where Eala partnered seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in doubles. The pair reached the quarter-finals, and Eala described absorbing Venus's 'special work ethic and mindset' as an invaluable lesson.
Eala credits her passionate Filipino fanbase, which she beautifully calls a 'community that uplifts each other', as a constant source of motivation. She plays the Mubadala Citi DC Open from July 27 before heading to Toronto, Cincinnati, and ultimately the US Open, where she previously made history by becoming the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.
TennisDraw users will be watching Eala's bracket trajectory closely as the US Open draw approaches.
